Oklahoma executed Brian Davis this evening, yippie one less murdering rapist in the world.

The 3 time murderer Kimberly McCarthy should be next to be executed tomorrow evening

Lawyer: Kimberly McCarthy’s Execution Can’t Be Stopped

HOUSTON (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - An attorney for a Dallas County woman set to die Wednesday says she has exhausted all efforts to block her execution, which would be the 500th in Texas since the state resumed carrying out the death penalty in 1982.Kimberly McCarthy contends black jurors were improperly excluded from her trial by prosecutors and this wasn’t challenged by her lawyers.

McCarthy was convicted of the grisly slaying and robbery of a 71-year-old neighbor, retired psychology professor Dorothy Booth, in 1997.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Tuesday declined to reconsider its denial a day earlier of McCarthy’s request, saying the claims should have been raised previously.

Maurie Levin, McCarthy’s attorney, says because the court’s ruling focuses on procedural and not substantive issues, the case can’t be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The 52-year-old McCarthy also would be the first woman put to death in the U.S. since 2010.

VICTORIA – Pursuant to a court order by the 377th Judicial District Court in Victoria County, John Manuel Quintanilla is scheduled for execution after 6 p.m. on July 16, 2013.

In 2004, a Victoria County jury found Quintanilla guilty of murdering Victor Billings in the course of committing or attempting to commit robbery.

FACTS OF THE CASE

The facts of the crime were not summarized by any court reviewing the case, which focused on the specific facts surrounding Quintanilla’s confessions.

Quintanilla and another man walked into a game parlor in Victoria, Texas, in the evening hours of November 24, 2002. Victor Billings, a retired law enforcement officer, was playing games inside, as was his wife of forty years, Linda. Quintanilla and his partner wore pantyhose masks and carried long rifles. One robber went into the parlor office while Quintanilla ordered the clerk, standing next to Mrs. Billings, to give him the money in her apron. She complied. Quintanilla later stated he stole some two thousand dollars from the game parlor that day. Quintanilla was pointing his rifle at the employee and Mrs. Billings. Victor Billings walked up to his wife and Quintanilla shot him twice. Billings grabbed the muzzle of the gun and Quintanilla shot him a third time, knocking him flat to the ground. Billings died of these gunshot wounds to the torso. Two patrons ran out the front door and Quintanilla shot at them from the rear of the facility. The shots were head high and struck the front door area.

At punishment, the State additionally presented testimony of Dr. Richard Coons, a forensic psychiatrist, who opined on the basis of a hypothetical question greatly resembling the facts of this case that such an inmate would probably be a future danger, and would be a greater risk if sentenced to life than if he were sent to death row.

After the State rested its punishment case, the court convened a hearing outside the presence of the jury. Trial counsel for Quintanilla indicated they would rest, in obedience to their client’s instructions. The trial court questioned Quintanilla regarding his awareness and understanding of his right to present evidence on punishment and the possible benefit of such evidence. Quintanilla confirmed that it was his considered wish not to present evidence in mitigation or regarding future dangerousness. Before the jury, defense counsel rested.

On the following day, before argument began and outside the jury’s presence, the court again addressed Quintanilla and emphasized the possible benefits of presenting evidence in mitigation. The court additionally pointed out that trial counsel had the expertise and experience to make determinations regarding useful evidence, and that without any punishment evidence from the defense, the jury’s decision would be based solely on the State’s presentation. Quintanilla repeatedly indicated that he had fully discussed this issue with his attorneys and that his decision was made freely, knowingly and voluntarily. Defense counsel indicated that they disagreed with Quintanilla’s decision but did not believe him to be incompetent in any way, and the court concurred. Counsel added that this had been an “ongoing situation” for the two years he had represented the defendant, and that both attorneys had counseled Quintanilla at great length for those two years without success in changing his position.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In 2003, a Victoria County grand jury indicted Quintanilla for murdering Victor Billings while committing or attempting to commit robbery on or about Nov. 24, 2002.

In 2004, a Victoria County jury found Quintanilla guilty of murdering Victor Billings. The jury recommended capital punishment, and on Dec. 14, 2004, the court sentenced Quintanilla to death by lethal injection.

On June 27, 2007, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed Quintanilla’s conviction and sentence.

Quintanilla did not file a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court.

On June 22, 2006, Quintanilla sought to challenge his conviction and sentence by seeking an application for a state writ of habeas corpus with the state trial court, while his direct appeal was pending.

In 2007, the trial court held an evidentiary hearing on the ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim and issued findings of fact and conclusions of law.

On June 4, 2008, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adopted the trial court’s findings and conclusions and denied habeas relief.

On May 30, 2009, Quintanilla filed a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus with the federal district court for the Southern District of Texas.

On Jan. 25, 2011, the federal district court denied Quintanilla’s petition for writ of habeas corpus. A Certificate of Appealability (COA) was denied.

On Oct. 17, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied COA.

On Jan. 6, 2012, Quintanilla filed a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court.

On March 19, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Quintanilla’s petition for writ of certiorari.

On July 9, 2013, Quintanilla filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

On July 11, 2013, the U.S. district court transferred Quantanilla's petition for a writ of habeas corpus to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY

Under Texas law, the rules of evidence prevent certain prior criminal acts from being presented to a jury during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. However, once a defendant is found guilty, jurors are presented information about the defendant’s prior criminal conduct during the second phase of the trial – which is when they determine the defendant’s punishment.

At punishment, the State presented testimony that Quintanilla committed another five armed robberies or burglaries, and attempted to commit a sixth, beginning in September 2002 and continuing through January 2003. Further, Quintanilla stabbed and sliced guards with improvised weapons and razor blades while trying to escape from the county jail in January 2003. Penitentiary packets revealed that Quintanilla pled guilty to second-degree felony burglary of a habitation in 1995 and received a 10-year sentence. Quintanilla also pled no contest to five other burglaries in 1995.

Vaughn Ross is next up on the executioners block, he's scheduled to be executed tomorrow (Thursday) evening after 6:00pm CST, microbes & worms gotta eat too.

Media Advisory: Vaughn Ross scheduled for execution

Austin –– Pursuant to a court order by the 137th District Court of Lubbock County, Texas, Vaughn Ross is scheduled for execution after 6 p.m. on July 18, 2013.

In September 2002, Ross was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death by a Lubbock County jury for killing Douglas Birdsall and Viola McVade.

FACTS OF THE CRIME

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit described the facts of the crime and the evidence admitted during the punishment phase as follows:

On Jan 31, 2001, the bodies of Douglas Birdsall and Viola McVade were found inside Birdsall’s car in a ravine. Both had been shot numerous times and both had died from gunshot wounds to the head.

After discovering the bodies, police investigated the report of shots fired the night before, to see if there was a connection with the murders. In an alley behind Vaughn Ross’s apartment, police discovered glass shards and two pools of blood. The larger pool of blood was consistent with Birdsall’s DNA profile. A shell casing recovered from the scene matched the shell casings found inside Birdsall’s car. A latex glove tip found inside Birdsall’s car was tested. Blood on the exterior of the glove tip was consistent with Birdsall’s DNA profile. The inside of the glove tip contained DNA consistent with Ross’s DNA.

When Ross was interviewed by the police on January 31, he admitted that he was angry with Viola on the evening of January 30, and that he and Viola had argued over the phone. The police interviewed Ross again on February 2. In that interview, he admitted that he had argued with Viola and had threatened her. Ross also admitted that he had worn latex gloves that night because he was going to mop his kitchen floor and the bleach hurt his hands.

With Ross’s consent, police searched his apartment and found two latex gloves and a sweatshirt. The sweatshirt had a very small bloodstain that DNA testing revealed to be consistent with Birdsall’s, and Ross’s DNA was on the inside of the shirt. Later, when he was in jail, Ross spoke with his mother, who asked him whether he had committed the crime. Ross responded that he “might have.”

At trial, the jury convicted Ross of capital murder. The jury answered affirmatively the special punishment issues on future dangerousness and whether Ross caused or anticipated the deaths of the victims. It answered negatively the special issue on mitigating circumstances. Accordingly, the trial court imposed the death sentence.

During the penalty phase of Ross’s trial, the State presented evidence that, on August 9, 2001, during roll call at the Lubbock County Jail, Ross was not wearing his mandatory identification wristband. When asked about the band, Ross threw it into the aisle; the metal brads on the wristband had been altered and removed. When informed that the wristband would be confiscated, Ross became upset and begin using profanity towards a jailer. The jailer wrote an incident report for cursing at a detention officer because Ross “kind of went crazy.”

Evidence also showed that Ross was placed on probation in Missouri on October 7, 1997, when he pled guilty to a Class B felony for assault and a Class C felony for stealing a motor vehicle. The victim was Ross’s girlfriend, who had been stalking him. According to Ross, on July 13, 1997, the victim pulled out a butcher knife and attempted to stab him, but he took the knife and stabbed her. The victim received a laceration to her right arm, stab wounds to her left thigh, nine cut-wounds, three stab wounds, several stitches, and a laceration to the left side of her neck which could have potentially been life-threatening. The victim stated that Ross told her to give him her neck, that she was going to die. Ross also stole the victim’s car. Ross expressed no remorse for the crime, and did not accept responsibility for the incident.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Ross was indicted by a Lubbock County grand jury for capital murder in the deaths of Birdsall and McVade.

On September 23, 2002, Ross was convicted of capital murder.

On September 27, 2002, Ross was sentenced to death after a separate hearing on punishment.

On May 5, 2004, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) affirmed Ross’s conviction and sentence on direct appeal. Ross did not seek certiorari review.

On January 23, 2003, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Ross’s state habeas application on January 23, 2003.

On December 1, 2011, the federal district court denied habeas corpus relief and a certificate of appealability (COA).

On Feb. 5, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit denied Ross a certificate of appealability.

On February 8, 2013, Ross’s execution was set for July 18, 2013.

On May 3, 2013, Ross filed a motion for stay of execution and a petition for writ of certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court. That petition and motion for stay are currently pending.

PRIOR CRIMINAL HISTORY

Under Texas law, the rules of evidence prevent certain prior criminal acts from being presented to a jury during the guilt-innocence phase of the trial. However, once a defendant is found guilty, jurors are presented information about the defendant’s prior criminal conduct during the second phase of the trial––which is when they determine the defendant’s punishment.

Probably a waste of keystrokes to again list the rescheduled Georgia execution of Warren Lee Hill. I'm no longer surprised how many times a condemned (double) murderer can avoid justice by faking (mental retardation) an Atkins Claim. The SCOTUS really messed up with Atkins

Hill was of average intelligence throughout his education. The office of the Navy stated that Warren Lee Hill was quickly promoted to the rank of petty officer shortly after enlisting. State experts testified that they determined Warren Lee Hill was malingering during their evaluations in an attempt to fake mental retardation. Jeez whoda thunk that convicted murderers facing execution would fake being mentally retarded. I wonder if Hill will be provided another last meal, actually his third, I like that Texas serves their condemned a last meal of the same shitty salad which every other inmate is enjoying.

Here's the latest on Warren Hill.

By Rhonda Cook. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia Department of Corrections has reset Warren Lee Hill’s execution for 7 p.m. Friday even though a judge has scheduled a hearing for Thursday to consider whether his lawyers should be told the identity of the compounding pharmacy that made the drugs that are to be used to put him to death.

Hill was to have been executed Monday, but Fulton County Superior Court Judge Gail Tusan stopped it and scheduled a hearing for Thursday morning so she could have more time to consider a new state law that shields the identities of those who make and supply lethal injection drugs. Georgia, like other death penalty states, has found it virtually impossible to secure drugs for lethal injection from the mass manufacturers who are under pressure from death penalty opponents.

So they have opted to use compounding pharmacies. To ensure a source, a state law took effect July 1 making the identities of the providers of lethal injection drugs a state secret, shielding those businesses from public pressure and protests by capital punishment opponents.

If Hill is executed for the 1990 murder of an inmate at the prison where he was already serving a life sentence for killing his 18-year-old girlfriend, it will be the first time Georgia has used a drug made specifically for a specific execution.

The warrant allowing for Hill’s execution expires at noon on Saturday.

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- A former Texas Tech graduate student was executed Thursday for a double slaying in Lubbock a dozen years ago.

Vaughn Ross, 41, was condemned for the January 2001 fatal shootings of an 18-year-old woman with whom he had been feuding and an associate dean at the university who was with her at the time.

No relatives of friends of Ross were there for the execution, yet he told them he loved them, thanked them for their support and urged them to stay strong.

"You know I don't fear death," he said, strapped to the death chamber gurney. "I know we weren't expecting this, but this is what it is. We know the lies that were told against me in court. We know it's not true."

As the lethal dose of pentobarbital began taking effect, Ross took several breaths, then began snoring. He let out a gurgle, snored once more and then stopped all movement. He was pronounced dead at 6:38 p.m. CDT, 22 minutes after the lethal drug was injected.

Ross was executed for the slayings of Douglas Birdsall, 53, the associate dean of libraries at Texas Tech University, and Viola Ross McVade. McVade was the sister of Ross' girlfriend and was not related to the convicted killer.

Along comes volunteer Andrew Lackey, the first since Robert Gleason (Virginia-1/16/2013) volunteered to ride the lightning with "Old Sparky".I've a smidgen of respect for a man that admitted his guilt & later petitioned the Appellate Court to allow him to receive justice rather than extend his life for years. If Lackey goes through with his execution this Thursday, I'll give him a thumbs up for his acceptance of responsibility & fore-go any celebration of his execution.

The Associated Press: MONTGOMERY, Ala. —

Alabama's second execution in almost two years is scheduled for Thursday at Holman Prison in Atmore.

Court records show that 30-year-old Andrew Lackey asked the state to set his execution date, and has not taken action to stop it.

Lackey is scheduled to die by lethal injection at Holman Prison in Atmore for the beating and shooting death of 80-year-old Charles Newman during a 2005 Halloween night robbery at Newnan's home in Limestone County. Lackey is to be executed by lethal injection at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Lackey would be the first inmate executed in Alabama since Christopher T. Johnson of Escambia County received a lethal injection Oct. 20, 2011. He was the sixth inmate executed in 2011.

The state's executions have been slowed partly because of a legal dispute over the drugs used in executions.

Lackey's execution was set after he wrote a letter to the Alabama Supreme Court saying that he had "an odd request."

"Please set me an execution date. I do not wish to pursue any further appeals for my death sentence," Lackey said in the letter to the justices, according to court records. Lackey said he would not file any further appeals.

Court records show Lackey has taken no action to stop the execution.

In a letter to Assistant Attorney General Richard Anderson, Lackey says, "I do not know what else I can do. Will you please help me get an execution date."

Court records show that Newman made an emergency phone call to the Athens Police Department on Halloween night 2005 in which he could be heard saying, "Don't do that," ''Leave me alone" and "What do you want."

The police operator then heard the apparent assailant repeatedly ask, "Where's the vault?" according to the records.

Bryan Stevenson, an attorney with the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative, said both the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals and the trial court have ruled that the state can go ahead with Lackey's execution.

Stevenson said he and other attorneys opposed to Lackey being executed and "have argued that he is mentally ill."

Seems as though it's been forever since the last state execution took place.Though today was supposed to be an Oklahoma & Pennsylvania double header, Pennsylvania granted Harve Johnson a stay of execution to allow additional time for his appellate process.

Anthony Rozelle Banks, 61, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the June 6, 1979, killing of Sun I. "Kim" Travis in Tulsa County. Banks was already serving a life prison sentence following his conviction for the April 11, 1978, slaying of a Tulsa convenience store clerk during an armed robbery when genetic evidence linked him to Travis' death.

Travis was abducted from the parking lot of a Tulsa apartment complex and later raped and shot in the head. Her partially clothed body was found in a roadside ditch on the city's north side on the morning following her disappearance.

Her former husband, Steve Travis, testified during the sentencing phase of Banks' 1999 trial that he met his wife while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Korea, where she struggled to support her father and three younger brothers. The couple married and eventually moved to Tulsa, where Travis enrolled in school and his wife continued to work, "sending money home to her family."

"Sun I. was kind to everyone," Travis said. "If she could help you in your time of need, she did so, no questions asked."

"Sun I.'s death was the most tragic thing in my life," he testified. "There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of her. ... I cannot understand why someone would want to take the life away from someone so kind and beautiful. We take life for granted and do not realize how precious it is until it is gone. Hopefully, knowing the people that did this will answer to their call will help me to go on with my life, knowing they have been punished."

Banks and a co-defendant, Allen Wayne Nelson, 54, were charged in the victim's death in August 1997, when their DNA was detected in evidence found on Travis' body and clothing. A 12-member jury convicted Nelson of first-degree murder and sentenced him to life in prison.

Banks was already in prison when he was linked to Sun Travis' death following his conviction for the 1978 slaying of David Fremin, who was shot and killed during an armed robbery. Banks was convicted of first-degree murder by a Tulsa County jury that imposed the death penalty in that case.

But the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a new trial in 1994, saying prosecutors failed to disclose evidence to the defense that the jury could have used to find Banks innocent. The court also said Banks received ineffective counsel. Rather than face the possibility of being sentenced to death again, Banks pleaded guilty to the murder charge in exchange for a sentence of life in prison.

In July, Banks waived his right to ask the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board to commute his death sentence to life in prison, according to his defense attorney, Thomas Hird of the Federal Public Defender's Office in Oklahoma City.

Banks' execution by lethal injection will be the fourth in Oklahoma this year.

Oklahoma still uses the three-drug lethal injection protocol. Pentobarbital is the first drug administered and renders a condemned inmate unconscious. It's followed by vecuronium bromide, which stops the inmate's breathing, then potassium chloride to stop the heart.

Oklahoma Department of Corrections spokesperson stated that Banks has asked that his daughter, a spiritual adviser, his attorney to witness his execution tonight at 6 p.m.

It's official: Anthony Banks is worm food, Oklahoma finally executed another worthless mass of humanity. It's ironic that DNA, the anti's favorite tool for prolonging executions, is responsible for solving a rape/murder that was a cold case for 18 years.

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- An Oklahoma death row inmate convicted of first-degree murder in the 1979 shooting death of a 25-year-old Korean national has been executed.

Sixty-one-year-old Anthony Rozelle Banks was pronounced dead at 6:07pm after he received a lethal injection of drugs at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. Banks is the fourth Oklahoma death row inmate to be executed this year.

Banks was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death by a Tulsa County jury for the June 6, 1979, killing of Sun "Kim" Travis. Banks was already serving a life prison sentence for his conviction in the April 11, 1978, slaying of a Tulsa convenience store clerk during an armed robbery when he was linked to Travis' death by DNA evidence 18 years after her death.

I usually don't post of an upcoming scheduled execution until the day prior to justice being served, it attracts too many anti's. However: I'm going to make an exception for the upcoming execution of Robert Gene Garza.Garza opened fire on a car load of women because he (correctly) believed his intended target was in the vehicle with them.Oh yeah; Four months later Garza took part in the so-called "Edinburg Massacre" which left six rival gang members dead on January 5, 2003.I've an inkling that Garza probably isn't heading to anybody's Thug Mansion after he's executed.

by Jacqueline Armendariz @ The MonitorEDINBURG — A Tri-City Bombers gang member convicted of killing several Donna women four months before authorities said he helped shoot and kill six men during the Edinburg massacre is set to be executed this fall.

Robert “Bones” Garza, 30, was convicted of two counts of capital murder in December 2003, but the charges were not related to the Edinburg slayings. Authorities linked the Tri-City Bombers and Garza to the September 2002 shootings deaths of four women in Donna. A jury found Garza guilty in the Donna case.

His execution date is Sept. 19, said Ted Hake, chief of the appellate division of the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office.

Hake said capital murder charges were not brought against Garza in connection to the Edinburg killings because he had already been sentenced to death in the Donna case. He said authorities identified him as a shooter in the Edinburg massacre.

All court appeals for Garza’s death sentence were exhausted when the Supreme Court denied his case in February. However, there is still the possibility that his execution could be postponed or stayed.

Hake said a death warrant for Garza was expected to be delivered Friday to the Huntsville prison, where the state carries out its executions.

Three other men involved in the Edinburg massacre also on death row: Humberto “Gallo” Garza, 38; Rodolfo “Creeper” Medrano, 33, and Juan “Ram” Ramirez-Navarro, 29.

According to court records, Robert Garza was among four men who targeted six women in Donna as they left Garcia’s Bar in 2002 after working their shift as bar maids. The victims killed were Maria De La Luz Bazaldua Cobarrubias, Danitzene Vasquez Beltran, Celina Linares Sanchez and Lurdes Araujo Torres.

State prosecutors said another TCB gang member had ordered a hit on the women, who he believed were called to testify against him in an unrelated attempted murder case. But, the gang members had mistakenly killed the wrong women, authorities said.

Court records state Garza told Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies of his involvement in the crime — admitting he witnessed and knew of the plot, but not that he fired a gun. He also told deputies another gang member had said the assassination wasn’t carried out correctly.

A jury convicted him of the crime under the law of parties, meaning it was not necessary to prove he fired the fatal shots. He was held equally responsible for the murders because he was present.

EDINBURG MASSACREA dozen men were indicted for their alleged roles in the rural Edinburg killings that shocked the Rio Grande Valley in 2003. Four days after the New Year, a group of men barged into a Monte Cristo Road home wearing jackets with the word “police” demanding money, gold, drugs and jewelry.

Humberto Garza, a former captain in the Tri-City Bombers gang, told investigators he plotted to raid the stash house occupied by rival Texas Chicano Brotherhood gang members, but that he had never ordered anyone killed.

Some charged in the case pleaded guilty to serve life in prison and others like Garza are on death row since their convictions in 2004, according to Monitor archives. Authorities believe at least two others charged in the murders fled to Mexico: Ricardo “Rica” Martinez and Juan “Perro” Nuñez, archives show.

ON DIRECT APPEAL FROM THE DENIAL OF A MOTION TO WITHDRAW THE DEATH WARRANT AND A MOTION TO STAY APPELLANT'S EXECUTION

FILED IN CAUSE NO. CR-0945-03-I IN THE 398TH DISTRICT COURTHIDALGO COUNTYPer Curiam.

O P I N I O N

We have before us a direct appeal from the denial of a motion to withdraw the death warrant in appellant's case and a motion to stay appellant's execution filed in the 398th District Court of Hidalgo County, Cause No. CR-0945-03-I, styled The State of Texas v. Robert Garza. Appellant's appeal is unauthorized and is, therefore, dismissed. Appellant's motion to stay his execution is denied. No motions for rehearing will be entertained, and the Clerk of the Court is ordered to issue mandate immediately.

Delivered: September 18, 2013

There's no stopping Garza's execution unless Governor Rick Perry grants a 30 day temporary stay of execution & I highly doubt Governor Perry is going to show mercy upon a banger that had no mercy for the 10 people he took part in viciously executing. 40 minutes to go

Florida executed a triple murderer on Tuesday: Thomas Knight died for the stabbing death of a prison guard. He had previously been convicted in the slaying of a Miami-Dade couple.

Knight’s execution by lethal injection comes 25 years to the month of that of the most infamous criminal ever put to death by the state: serial killer Ted Bundy, who died in Florida’s electric chair on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1989 - nearly two weeks from today.

A Florida inmate has been executed for fatally stabbing a prison guard with a sharpened spoon while on death row for abducting and killing a Miami couple.

Askari Abdullah Muhammad, previously known as Thomas Knight, was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, the governor's office said.

The 62-year-old inmate was initially condemned to die for the 1974 abduction and killings of Sydney and Lillian Gans of Miami. Tuesday's execution was specifically for his conviction for the 1980 killing of corrections officer Richard Burke.

The execution was delayed because of numerous appeals and rulings, including a 1987 federal appeals court tossing out his original death sentence because he was stopped from putting on character and background witnesses in the penalty phase....more at linkhttp://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/07/as ... -in-florid

_________________Do not go gentle into that good night.___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

STARKE, Fla. — A man convicted in the 1991 sexual assault and murder of an aspiring artist in Orlando has been executed in Florida.

Forty-year-old Darius Kimbrough was pronounced dead at 6:18 p.m. following an injection at the Florida State Prison in Starke, officials said.

Kimbrough was condemned for the October 1991 killing of 28-year-old Denise Collins, who was attacked in her apartment as she slept. Experts testified at Kimbrough’s 1994 trial that blood and semen samples taken from Collins’ bed were compatible with the defendant’s DNA.